High voltage switch operating mechanism

ABSTRACT

An input crankshaft is rotated causing an attached offset pin to engage a yoke arm. The yoke arm is connected in two spring links which, when the yoke arm is rotated, pivot in opposite directions causing the ends of an attached spring to be extended in opposite directions. Once rotation of the yoke arm passes a neutral point, and the links have extended the spring to its maximum extension, the contracting force of the spring then acts on the two spring links to rotate the yoke arm rapidly in the same direction as the input rotation in a quick snapping fashion. When the yoke arm rotates rapidly, a pin on the yoke plate engages an output drive lever which is connected by appropriate linkage to an operating shaft. The rapid snapping of the yoke arm which imparts motion to the output drive lever and the operating shaft, causes an electrical switch to open to break an electrical circuit or, upon reverse operation, to quickly close to make an electrical circuit.

United States Evans atent 1 HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM [75]Inventor: David Evans, Palatine, Ill.

[73] Assignee: S&C Electric Company, Chicago,

22 Filed: Jan. 16,1974

211 Appl. No.: 433,728

[52] US. Cl. 200/153 SC; ZOO/67 B; ZOO/153 G [51] Int. Cl. H01H 3/30;l-lOlH 3/46 [58] Field of Search ZOO/153 SC, 67 B, 153 G [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1971 Leonard 200/67 B X 3/1973 RigertZOO/153 SC [57] ABSTRACT An input crankshaft is rotated causing anattached offset pin to engage a yoke arm. The yoke arm is connected intwo spring links which, when the yoke arm is rotated, pivot in oppositedirections causing the ends of an attached spring to be extended inopposite directions. Once rotation of the yoke arm passes a neutralpoint, and the links have extended the spring to its maximum extension,the contracting force of the spring then acts on the two spring links torotate the yoke arm rapidly in the same direction as the input rotationin a quick snapping fashion. When the yoke arm rotates rapidly, a pin onthe yoke plate engages an output drive lever which is connected byappropriate linkage to an operating shaft. The rapid snapping of theyoke arm which imparts motion to the output drive lever and theoperating shaft, causes an electrical switch to open to break anelectrical circuit or, upon reverse operation, to quickly close to makean electrical circuit.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] AUG 5 I975 SHEET PATENTEU AUG sunsSHEET PATENTEU AUG SISYS HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISMBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to high voltage electrical switches and moreparticularly to operating mechanisms for high voltage electricalswitches which operate to cause a switch to quickly make and quicklybreak a circuit.

2. Description of the Prior Art High voltage electrical switches arewell known to the art. For example, an electrical switch of thequickmake, quick-break type are disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,989,603Mikos et al., assigned to the assignee of this application. The Mikos etal. patent discloses and discusses rapid action switch operatingmechanisms for operating interrupter switches.

The quick-make, quick-break switch often consists of an operating leverand a spring arrangement for causing the rapid action of an operatinglever. Springs are often used in high voltage switch operatingmechanisms because of the large amount of force generated by springs,and because such springs have essentially no reaction time delay oncereleased.

The input to quick-make, quick-break switches is often provided by alever which can be, but need not be, operated by hand. The output ofquick-make, quick-break switches may be a switch blade or other switchcontact mechanism. Thus, the principal use of such inventions is formanual operation in making or breaking a circuit under conditions ofhigh voltage or excessively high currents, e.g., a fault current.

The use of springs in quick-make, quick-break electrical switches iswell known in the art. However, such arrangements have typically onlyinvolved the expansion or contraction of the spring in one direction,and such single acting spring mechanisms have not in all instancescompletely solved the problems arising from opening and closing of highvoltage circuits. When such circuits are interrupted by a low speedmechanism, arcing and high current flow and consequent danger toproperty and operating personnel can occur.

In addition, the absence of appropriate latching mechanisms for lockingthe switch in an open position can result in high current flow at inappropriate times exposing operating personnel to safety risks.Typically, prior art quick-make, quick-break switches have relied uponthe position of the input lever to hold the switch in the open positiononce that position has been achieved. Some prior art, such as US. Pat.No. 2,939,603 Mikos et al., discloses special constructions designed toprevent accidental closing of the switch contacts once they have beenopened. Such constructions are obviously important to prevent the flowof electric current during repair of the equipment, but none of theabove constructions disclose latch arrangements which can be unlockedfrom a remote position. Further, it would be advantageous to provide anarrangement that locks the switch in a closed position so that externalforces or electromagnetic forces due to fault currents cannotaccidentially open the switch.

Consequently, it would be a highly desirable advance in the art toprovide a quick-make, quick-break switch for high voltage circuits whichcould be hand operated, and which could produce a rapid snapping openingaction of an electrical switch utilizing a double acting springarrangement to produce maximum efficiency.

In addition, it would also be desirable to provide a means for holdingthe electrical switch in its open position, while allowing remotedisengagement of this holding mechanism.

Further, it would be desirable to provide a means for closing anelectrical switch with a rapid snapping action to reduce arcing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention,a high voltage switch operating mechanism comprises operating switchcontacts connected to an operating means which extends into a switchhousing. Mounted within the housing and operably connected to the outputmeans is an output drive lever. The output drive lever is free to rotateand has engaging abutments thereon which engage a pin projection on ayoke arm means. An input crankshaft means mounted for rotation has anengaging pin which'is positioned to engage an engaging surface on theyoke arm means.

The yoke arm means has first and second spring link means pivotablyconnected to its periphery. The spring link means are connected to wingarm means which are pivotably mounted so that rotation of the yoke armmeans causes the wing arm means to separate, thus extending a springconnected between the wing arm means. When the rotation of the yoke armmeans reaches a point where the spring link means have caused the wingarm means to expand the spring to its maximum extension, furtherrotation of the yoke arm means results in the spring contracting tocause the spring link means to drive the yoke arm means rapidly in asnapping rotation. This motion continues until the spring reaches itsnormal, contracted position.

The rapid snapping rotation causes the pin projection on the yoke armmeans to engage the engaging abutment on the output drive lever, therebycausing the drive lever to rotate rapidly to cause the output means torapidly open the switch contacts.

Reverse rotation of the input crankshaft means in an opposite directioncauses the elements described above to move in an opposite direction sothat the switch contacts are rapidly closed in the same manner.

The present invention also includes a locking means for locking theoperating means after the switch contacts are opened so that the switchcontacts are not accidentally closed by wind or other external forces.Rotation of the input crankshaft means in the opposite direction unlocksthe locking means so that the switch contacts can be closed.

Further, the present invention also includes an over center toggle meansfor locking the operating means in the switch closed position so thatthe switch contacts can only be opened as a result of rotation of theinput crankshaft means.

Thus, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide aquick-make, quick-break switch operating mechanism having a doubleacting spring for efficiently utilizing the spring energy by couplingboth ends of the spring into a drive system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick-make,quick-break switch operating mechanism such that the switch is held opennot only by spring means but also by a locking means when the switch isin the open position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a quick-make,quick-break switch operating mechanism such that the operating mechanismis locked in a switch closed position so that the switch contacts canonly be opened by operation of the input crankshaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top partially fragmentaryview of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention taken substantially along line 33 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 44 inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 inFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along line 6-6 in FIG.1 showing the output drive lever, latch dog, and output lever in theswitch closed position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along line 66 in FIG. 1showing the output drive lever, latch dog, and output lever in theswitch open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference toFIGS. 1, 2, and 3, operating mechanism 10 comprises housing 12,including front wall 14, side walls 15, back wall 16 joined together bybolts 18.

With reference to FIG. 1, input crankshaft 20 extends through bearinghousing 22 which comprises body 24, enclosed roller bearing 30 (shown indotted lines). Bearing housing 22 is mounted to front wall 14 by bearinghousing bolts 28. Input crankshaft 20 includes crank arm 31 whichextends away from the central axis of crankshaft 20. Mounted at the endof crank arm 31 is engaging pin 32 which extends parallel to the centeraxis of crankshaft 20. Crankshaft 20 also in- I cludes a narrowedportion 34 which extends through back wall 16 so that crankshaft 20 canrotate.

Pivotably mounted on the narrowed portion 34 of input crankshaft 20 isyoke arm 36. At the upper edge of yoke arm 36 is slot 38 (see FIG. 5)having engaging surfaces 40 and 41 at the ends thereof. Mounted toextensions 42 of yoke arm 36 by pin 44 are first spring link member 46and second spring link member 48. The opposite ends of first and secondspring link members 46 and 48 are connected to first wing arm 50 andsecond wing arm member 52 respectively by pins 54. First and second wingarms 50 and 52 are pivotably mounted by shafts 56 to the interior ofswitch housing 12 so that first and second wing arms 50 and 52 canfreely pivot about shaft 56. A spring 58 is connected at each end tofirst and second wing arms 50 and 52 by pins 54.

Mounted on the opposite side of yoke arm 36 is pin projection 60 that ispositioned at a distance radially disposed from the central axis ofrotation of yoke arm 36 so that rotation of yoke arm 36 causes pinprojection 60 to travel in a circular arc.

Also pivotably mounted upon the narrowed portion 34 of input crankshaft20 is output drive lever 62. Output drive lever 62 (see FIGS. 6 and 7)also has a slot 64 formed therein for receiving pin projection 60 ofyoke arm 36. Slo't 64 forms two abutting surfaces 66 and 67 at the endsof slot 64 against which pin projection 60 can engage output drive lever62. Also pivotably mounted to output drive lever 62 by pin 69 is latchdog member 68 which is biased by a spring 70 (shown in dotted lines inFIG. 6) so that latch dog member 68 tends to rotate in acounterclockwise direction until arm 70 of latch dog member 68 engages aflange 72 on output drivelever 62. Latch dog member 68 also comprisesarm 74 which extends at an angle to arm 70.

Pivotably connected an extended portion 76 of output drive lever 62 bypin 78 is drive link 80. Drive link 80 has formed at one end thereof afinger 81 that is adapted to engage the arm 70 of latch dog member 68when output drive lever 62 is in the position as shown in FIG. 6.

The opposite end of drive link 80 is connected by pin 84 to output arm86. Output arm 86 is rigidly attached to output shaft 88 by set screws90 (see FIG. 1). Output shaft 88 extends through back wall 16 and isrotatably mounted by bearing housing 92 which encloses roller bearing 94(shown in dotted lines). Bearing housing 92 is mounted to back wall 16by bolts 96. Thus, rotation of output arm 86 causes output shaft 88 torotate within roller bearing 94. Also mounted on output shaft 88 outsideof back wall 16 is operating arm 98 that can be connected by appropriatelinkage (not shown) to the switch contacts of a high voltage switch sothat rotation of operating arm 98 causes the switch contacts to eitheropen or close depending upon the direction of rotation of operating arm98.

Operation of the preferred embodiment may be described as follows. Anappropriate input driving arrangement can be connected to the end ofinput crankshaft 20 that extends through bearing housing 22 so thatrotational movement can be imparted to input crankshaft 20. Such aninput driving arrangement may take the form ofa crank arm, mechanicalgear, or chain and sprocket arrangement. FIGS. 1 and 2 show theoperating mechanism 10 in the switch closed position. To achieve aswitch open condition, input crankshaft 20 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction so that the engaging pin 32 on the end ofcrank arm 31 of input crankshaft 20 engages engaging surface 40 of yokearm 36 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). As input crankshaft 20 is rotated, engagingpin 32 causes yoke arm 36 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction,thus causing first and second spring link members 46 and 48-to causefirst and second wing arms 50 and 52 respectively to pivot in oppositedirections thus extending spring 58. Continued rotation of yoke arm 36will cause continued expansion of spring 58 until spring 56 reaches itsmaximum expansion at the point where first and second spring linkmembers have reached the position where pins 44 are shown in dottedlines and designated as 44' in FIG. 5, and pins 54 on first and secondwingarms 50 and 52 are in the position shown in dotted lines anddesignated as 54' in FIG. 5. At that point, the center line of first andsecond spring link members 46 and 48 are in the position shown in thedotted lines designated 46 and 48' respectively. Thecenter line 46 and48' is aligned with the center line of input crankshaft 20 which is thecenter of rotation of yoke arm 36. Continued rotation of yoke arm 36 ina counterclockwise direction will result in spring 58 contractingrapidly to cause spring link members 46 and 48 to impart rapidrotational motion to yoke arm 36, until pins 44 on yoke arm 36 reach theposition indicated by the dotted lines designated as 44" in FIG. 5. Inthis position pins 54 have returned to their original position, spring58 has contracted to its original configuration, and the center line offirst and second spring link members 46 and 48 have reached the positiondesignated by 46 and 48 respectively.

The rapid rotational motion imparted to yoke arm 36 after spring linkmembers pass the neutral position designated by the dotted line 46 and48', causes pin projection 60 on yoke arm 36 to engage abutting surface66 on output drive lever 62 thereby causing output drive lever 62 torotate very rapidly in a snapping type action. The rapid rotationalmotion imparted to output drive lever 62 causes output arm 86 (see FIGS.6 and 7) to also rotate very rapidly to the position shown in FIG. 7 asa result of the connection of drive link 80. The rapid rotation ofoutput arm 86 is transmitted through output shaft 88 to cause connectedoperating arm 98 to pivot very rapidly in the same direction. Aninsulating link (not shown) connected to output arm 98 is connected toan appropriate high voltage switch and causes the contacts of the highvoltage switch to open very rapidly as a result of the snap action ofoperating arm 98.

To close the switch contacts, after the switch is opened, inputcrankshaft is rotated in a clockwise direction, and the sequencedescribed above is reversed. Engaging pin 32 engages the engagingsurface 41 (as shown in FIG. 5) thus causing yoke arm 36 to rotate in aclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 5 until pins 44 are moved from theposition designated 44" to the position designated 44. Once again,continued rotation of yoke arm 36 in a clockwise direction results inspring 58 causing first and second spring link members to transmit rapidrotational motion to yoke arm 36 until it reaches the positionillustrated by the solid lines in FIG. 5. This rapid rotational motionof yoke arm 36 causes pin projection 60 to engage abutting surface 67 onoutput drive lever 62, thus causing output drive lever 62 to rotate veryrapidly from the position illustrated in FIG. 7 to the positionillustrated in FIG. 6. This rapid rotational motion of output drivelever 62 causes output arm 86 connected by drive link 80 to pivot veryrapidly to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 thereby imparting rapidrotational motion to output shaft 88 and to operating arm 98 to rapidlyclose the switch contacts of the connected high voltage switch.

A locking means is provided in the form of latch dog member 68. When inthe switch closed position, latch dog member 68 is held in the positionillustrated in FIG. 6 by finger projection 81 on the end of drive link80. In this position, latch dog member 68 is pivoted until arm 74contacts the flange 72 on output drive lever 62, and the end of arm 74disengages pin projection 60. In this position, pin projection 60 isfree to move through slot 64 to engage abutting surface 66.

However, when output drive lever 62 is pivoted to the switch openposition as illustrated in FIG. 7, the finger projection 81 on the endof drive link 80 disengages the arm 70 of latch dog member 68 thuspermitting the spring biasing of latch dog member 68 to pivot latch dogmember 68 in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 7. Whenoutput drive lever 62 is rapidly pivoted as a result of the snap actionof yoke arm 36, output drive lever 62 will rotate to the position shownin FIG. 7 but pin projection 60 on yoke arm 36 will stop in the positionshown in FIG. 7 so that latch dog member 68 can pivot to the positionwhere the end of arm 74 engages the surface of pin projection 60 therebytrapping pin projection 60 between abutting surface 67 and the end ofarm 74 (see FIG. 7). In this position, output drive lever 62 and outputarm 86 connected by drive link 80 are locked in the position shown inFIG. 7 and consequently the switch contact connected to operating arm 98cannot be accidentally closed as a result of rebounding or by externalforces.

However, during the closing sequence, since pin projection 60 engagesabutting surface 67 to cause closing motion to be imparted to outputdrive lever 62, latch dog member 68 does not interfere with the closingsequence as long as the force provided to cause the closing results frominput rotational motion from input crankshaft 20.

An additional feature of the present invention is that the switchcontacts are locked in a closed position as a result of the toggleaction of drive link 80 and output drive lever 62. In FIG. 6, it can beseen that output drive lever 68 and drive link 80 are in a position whenthe switch contacts are closed so that the center line of pin 78 isbeyond the center line between the center line of input crankshaft 20and the center line of pin 84. Thus, if force is exerted to the highvoltage switch to cause the switch contacts to open, this force will betransmitted through output arm 86 to cause output arm 86 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. However, such force willonly tend to cause the finger projection 81 on the end of drive link 80to press against arm 70 of latch dog member 68. Since arm 74 of latchdog member 68 is against flange 72 of input drive lever 62, drive linkand output drive lever 62 are toggled so that the switch contacts cannotopen. Thus, the switch contacts can only be opened as a result ofrotational motion being imparted to output drive lever 62.

The major advantage of the present invention is the use of the doubleacting spring 58. Since a spring force of several hundred pounds isinvolved, it is undesirable to connect one end of the spring to thehousing so that the spring is a single acting spring. If the spring wereattached to the housing, a large reaction force would be applied to thehousing with an equally large side thrust on the output drive lever. Byusing a double acting spring, side thrust loads on the members isavoided due to the symmetry of the design, and the reaction couple onthe wing arm produces relatively low forces. Consequently, heavilyloaded bearings are avoided resluting in lower friction duringoperation.

It should be expressly understood that various modifications, changes,and variations in the structure of the above-identified preferredembodiment may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A high voltage switch operating mechanism for opening and closing thecontacts of a high voltage switch comprising:

a spring having two ends for storing energy upon extension and rapidlyreleasing stored energy upon contraction;

a spring extending means for extending both ends of said springsimultaneously in opposite directions to cause said spring to storeenergy and for permitting said spring to contract rapidly to release thestored energy when said spring is expanded to a predetermined amount ofextension;

input means for causing said spring extending means to extend saidspring;

output means coupled to said spring extending means for receiving thereleased stored energy of said spring and causing saidswitch contacts toopen and close rapidly in response to receipt of the stored energy.

2. A high voltage switch operating mechanism. as claimed in claim 1,further comprising:

locking means for locking said output means after the contacts of thehigh voltage switch are open so that the contacts cannot be accidentallyclosed, said locking means unlocking said output means in response tooperation of said input means to close the switch contacts.

3. A high voltage switch operating mechanism, as claimed in claim 1,further comprising:

over center toggle means for locking said output means in the switchclosed position so that the switch contacts can only be opened as aresult of operation of the input means.

4. A high voltage switch operating mechanism for opening and closing thecontacts of a high voltage switch comprising:

a housing;

input crankshaft means mounted for rotation within said housing andextending through an opening in said housing, said input crankshaftmeans including an engaging pin mounted thereon:

yoke arm means mounted for rotation within said housing, said yoke armmeans having an engaging surface for engaging said engaging pin on saidinput crankshaft means, and a pin projection extending in an oppositedirection from said engaging surface:

first and second spring link means having first and second endspivotably connected at their first ends to said yoke arm means;

first and second wing arm means having first and second ends. said firstand second wing arm means being pivotably mounted within said housing attheir first end adjacent opposite sides of said yoke arm means. and saidfirst spring link means being pivotably connected at its second end tothe second end of said first wing arm means and said second spring linkmeans being pivotably connected at its second end to the second end ofsaid second wing arm means;

spring bias means having first and second ends. said first end beingconnected to the second end of said first wing arm means. and saidsecond end being connected to the second end of said second wing armmeans. said spring bias means tending to urge said first and second wingarm means to pivot toward one another;

output drive lever means pivotably mounted within said housing, saidoutput drive lever means having engaging abutments thereon for engagingsaid pin projection on said yoke arm means;

output meansoperably connected to said output drive lever means, saidoutput means for causing the switch contacts to open and close inresponse to rotation of said output drive lever means;

whereby rotation of said input crankshaft causes said engaging pin toengage said engaging surface on said yoke arm means to cause said yokearm means to rotate so that said first and second spring link meanscause said first and second wing arm means to pivot to expand saidspring bias means from both ends until said yoke arm means rotates to aposition where said spring bias means is expanded to a maximum distanceso that further rotation of said yoke arm means results in said springbias means contracting rapidly to cause said spring link means to impartrapid rotational motion to said yoke arm means thereby causing said pinprojection to engage said engaging abutment on said output drive leverso that said output drive lever rotates to cause said operably connectedoutput means to rapidly open and close the contacts of the high voltageswitch.

5. A high voltage switch operating mechanism, as

claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

locking means for locking said operating means after the contacts of thehigh voltage switch are opened so that said contacts cannot beaccidentally closed, said locking means unlocking said operating meansin response to rotation of said input crankshaft means and said yoke armmeans in the opposite direction to close the contacts.

6. A high voltage switch operating mechanism, as claimed in claim 5,wherein said locking means comprises:

a latch dog member pivotably mounted to said output drive lever means,said latch dog member being spring biased to rotate to engage said pinprojection on said yoke arm when said output drive lever rotates to openthe contacts so that said output drive lever cannot rotate in anopposite direction until said yoke arm means is rotated by said inputcrankshaft means.

7. A high voltage switch operating mechanism, as

claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

over center toggle means for locking said operating means in the switchclosed position so that the switch contacts can only be opened as aresult of rotation of the input crankshaft means.

1. A high voltage switch operating mechanism for opening and closing thecontacts of a high voltage switch comprising: a spring having two endsfor storing energy upon extension and rapidly releasing stored energyupon contraction; a spring extending means for extending both ends ofsaid spring simultaneously in opposite directions to cause said springto store energy and for permitting said spring to contract rapidly torelease the stored energy when said spring is expanded to apredetermined amount of extension; input means for causing said springextending means to extend said spring; output means coupled to saidspring extending means for receiving the released stored energy of saidspring and causing said switch contacts to open and close rapidly inresponse to receipt of the stored energy.
 2. A high voltage switchoperating mechanism, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: lockingmeans for locking said output means after the contacts of the highvoltage switch are open so that the contacts cannot be accidentallyclosed, said locking means unlocking said output means in response tooperation of said input means to close the switch contacts.
 3. A highvoltage switch operating mechanism, as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising: over center toggle means for locking said output means inthe switch closed position so that the switch contacts can only beopened as a result of operation of the input means.
 4. A high voltageswitch operating mechanism for opening and closing the contacts of ahigh voltage switch comprising: a housing; input crankshaft meansmounted for rotation within said housing and extending through anopening in said housing, said input crankshaft means including anengaging pin mounted thereon; yoke arm means mounted for rotation withinsaid housing, said yoke arm means having an engaging surface forengaging said engaging pin on said input crankshaft means, and a pinprojection extending in an opposite direction from said engagingsurface; first and second spring link means having first and second endspivotably connected at their first ends to said yoke arm means; firstand second wing arm means having first and second ends, said first andsecond wing arm means being pivotably mounted within said housing attheir first end adjacent opposite sides of said yoke arm means, and saidfirst spring link means being pivotably connected at its second end tothe second end of said first wing arm means and said second spring linkmeans being pivotably connected at its second end to the second end ofsaid second wing arm means; spring bias means having first and secondends, said first end being connected to the second end of said firstwing arm means, and said second end being connected to the second end ofsaid second wing arm means, said spring bias means tending to urge saidfirst and second wing arm means to pivot toward one another; outputdrive lever means pivotably mounted within said housing, said outputdrive lever means having engaging abutments thereon for engaging saidpin projection on said yoke arm means; output means operably connectedto said output drive lever means, said output means for causing theswitch contacts to open and close in response to rotation of said outputdrive lever means; whereby rotation of said input crankshaft causes saidengaging pin to engage said engaging surface on said yoke arm means tocause said yoke arm means to rotate so that said first and second springlink means cause said first and second wing arm means to pivot to expandsaid spring bias means from both ends until said yoke arm means rotatesto a position where said spring bias means is expanded to a maximumdistance so that further rotation of said yoke arm means results in saidspring bias means contracting rapidly to cause said spring link means toimpart rapid rotational motion to said yoke arm means thereby causingsaid pin projection to engage said engaging abutment on said outputdrive lever so that said output drive lever rotates to cause saidoperably connected output means to rapidly open and close the contactsof the high voltage switch.
 5. A high voltage switch operatingmechanism, as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: locking means forlocking said operating means after the contacts of the high voltageswitch are opened so that said contacts cannot be accidentally closed,said locking means unlocking said operating means in response torotation of said input crankshaft means and said yoke arm means in theopposite direction to close the contacts.
 6. A high voltage switchoperating mechanism, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said locking meanscomprises: a latch dog member pivotably mounted to said output drivelever means, said latch dog member being spring biased to rotate toengage said pin projection on said yoke arm when said output drive leverrotates to open the contacts so that said output drive lever cannotrotate in an opposite direction until said yoke arm means is rotated bysaid input crankshaft means.
 7. A high voltage switch operatingmechanism, as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: over center togglemeans for locking said operating means in the switch closed position sothat the switch contacts can only be opened as a result of rotation ofthe input crankshaft means.